The distribution of \(k\)-free numbers (Q624223)

Let \(R_k(x) = \sum_{\substack{ n\geq x\\ k-\text{free}\,n}} 1 - \frac{x}{\zeta(k)}\) for an integer \(k\geq 2\). In [Recent Progress in Analytic Number Theory (Durham, 1979), vol. 1, 247--256 (1981; Zbl 0462.10029)] \textit{H. L. Montgomery} and \textit{R. C. Vaughan} proved that for \(\varepsilon > 0\) and \(\psi(w) = w - [w] - \frac 12\) \[ R_k(x) = - \sum_{n\leq N} \mu(n)\psi(xn^{-k}) + O(x^{\frac 12+\varepsilon} N^{(1-k)/2} + N^{\frac 12+\varepsilon}) \tag{\(*\)} \] assuming the Riemann Hypothesis (RH). Their estimate \(R_k(x) \ll x^{\frac1 {k+1}+\varepsilon}\) under RH has been improved for all \(k\), and in particular when \(k = 2\) \textit{C.-H. Jia} [Sci. China Ser. A, 36, 154--169 (1993; Zbl 0772.11033)] obtained the exponent \(\frac{17}{54}+\varepsilon\). The aim of the current paper is to derive an improved exponent for \(R_k(x)\) under RH for the cases \(k = 3,4,5\). The sum in \((*)\) is dominated by exponential sums which the authors bound by combining, adapting and improving results in various other papers listed in the references.